Control device for waterproof timepiece



July 8, 1969 J. 5mm 3,453,819

CONTROL DEVICE FOR WATERPROOF TIMEPIECB 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1967 United States Patent 3,453,819 CONTROL DEVICE FOR WATERPROOF TIMEPIECE John Simon, 42 Case postale, 2720 Tramelan, Switzerland Filed Dec. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 690,978 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Dec. 22, 1966, 18,355/66 Int. Cl. G04b 37/10 US. CI. 58-90 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a control device for a watertight timepiece or watch.

Already known is a watertight watch having a push button integral with a stem passing through a tube of its casing and covered by an elastic membrane which fully obturates the passage in the casing wall and which is flexible enough to move axially when pushed and to consequently axially move the push button although it is normally spaced therefrom.

Such a construction offers a solution which is sure and simple to the problem of the watertightnes of the push button of a chronometer, in particular. The shape of the socket of the membrane permits to secure it easily and to make directly accessible the part of the socket located above the securing means. The fatigue of the membrane at the point where it is fixed is null since it is not stretched during its deformation avoiding from this fact to cause a pull on the anchoring of this membrane which would deteriorate rapidly.

It has already been noted that the end portion of this membrane and which is not in contact with the push button except when it is pushed in contact therewith can be moved along a direction which is perpendicular to the axis of the rod. This movement which is useless to the functioning of the push button is rendered possible by the separation between the end of the membrane and the push button and can cause wear of the membrane in the area thereof where it is not in contact with the push button and hence where it is unsupported thereby.

The present invention aims at avoiding this drawback and has for purpose a control device for a watertight watch comprising a push button rigid with a rod passing through a tube of the casing and covered by an elastic membrane in the shape of a socket secured in watertight fashion to said tube by gripping the lower part of the mantle of the socket between a shoulder of the tube and an inner shoulder of the ring mounted on this tube. This control device is characterised by the fact that rigid means connect said button to the portion of said membrane located outside its securing means.

The accompanying drawing represents by way of example one embodiment of the control device according to the present'invention.

The single figure is a cross section thereof.

This drawing represents a control device of a known type. Button 2 in the shape of a socket is secured by its central tube 21 to the control stem 3 and is guided by its cylindrical wall 17 in bore 11 of tube 4 and has on the outer wall of its bottom a shoulder 22 surmounted by a stud 23 made integrally with button 2 and coaxial to stem 3.

The bottom of the elastic membrane 18 in the shape of a socket has on its inner surface a cylindrical stud 24 provided with a cylindrical hollow 25 both coaxial to stem 3 and made integrally with membrane 18. Membrane 18 is secured to tube 4 by the cooperation of its annular shoulder 30 with the annular shoulder 32 of ring 34 secrewed on tube 4.

A tubular metallic piece 26 having an outer collar 27 and an inner collar 28 surrounds stud 24. Collar 27 bears against the bottom of the socket forming the membrane 18 and collar 28 placed between shoulder 22 and the extremity of stud 24 fits around stud '23.

Stem 3 is slidingly mounted against spring 16 which bears at one extremity against packing 12 through a metallic ring 29 and at the other extremity against the bottom of button 2. This stem is guided axially in opening 4a of tube 4 and by the cylindrical wall 17 of button 2 cooperating with bore 11 of tube 4.

The link between button 2 and the bottom of the socket formed by membrane 18 only permits its deformation under the effect of the pressure directed in the direction of the axis of the stem 3.

Other modifications can be conceived of, it is possible for example to eliminate tubular piece 26, the linking only being ensured by the penetration of stud 23 in hollow 25.

What is claimed is:

1. In a timepiece a casing, a tube passing through said casing, and having a portion disposed outside said casing, a spring urged control stem passing through said tube in tight relationship therewith, a push button rigidly connected to the outer end of said stem, securing means having a lower portion secured around a lower part of the said portion of said tube disposed outside said casing and an upper portion and an outer elastic membrane fitting around said button and having an upper central part rigidly connected to said button and a lower part secured between an upper part of said portion of said tube and said upper portion of said security means whereby any axial pressure on said membrane is immediately transferred to said push button.

2. Timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprise a ring threaded on said tube, said ring having an inner shoulder in the part thereof remote from said casing and said membrane having an outer shoulder in said lower part thereof cooperating with said inner shoulder.

3. Timepiece according to claim 2, wherein said membrane has an inner shoulder in abutting relationship with the outer end of said tube.

4. Timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said upper central part of said membrane includes an inwardly directed projection having a recess therein and said push button has an upper projection concentric with said recess and partially received therein.

5. Timepiece according to claim 4, having a collar fitting around said inwardly directed projection of said membrane, said collar having a portion disposed between the end of said projection and the inner part of said push button.

6. Timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said tube has an annular housing on the lower part thereof through 3 4 which passes said stem and fluidtight means in said hous- References Cited ing surrounding said stern. UNITED STATES PATENTS 7. Timepiece according to claim 6, including a spring positioned wholly outside said casing and wound around 1,292,441 1/1919 Depolhen said stem one end of said spring being in contact with 5 3,188,793 6/1965 Morisaid fluidtight means and the other end with said push FOREIGN PATENTS button.

8. Timepiece according to claim 7, wherein said push 964039 5/1957 Germany button has an inner central part fitting around one end of said stem and said other end of said spring being 6 wound around said central part of said push button. G. H. MILLER, 111., Assistant Examiner.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. 

